With Kleins resignation...who does...

[nieuwy-89]

One thing I forgot to mention - in this type of election anything can happen. If one of the Edmonton candidates does surprisingly well on the first ballot, the other two could drop out and put their support behind the front-runner. If Oberg does poorly, he could do the same in an attempt to "screw" Dinning (not that I know of any reason he would).

The point is...these types of elections can be unpredictable, as a few of you have already pointed out. If it shakes out to a two-horse race between Dinning and say Norris...anything can happen!

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I was leaning toward Dinning but I do not agree with his idea to reduce taxes for people under 30 then jack them up after. I sent him an email regarding this and he said his position will most likely not change.

There are better ways to help younger Albertans and given the fact that most people make the most money later on in life makes no sense in giving tax breaks when it will benifit you the least.

That truely is a backwards strategy if I've ever heard one. Considering how much oppurtunity there is for anyone to make money in this province the last thing they need is to know they can jump in the patch and make a bunch of money at a low tax rate. Whereas your average college grad isn't done school until they're 23-24 and don't start earning top wages until they get to the age of 30.

What they should be doing is offering up a higher monthly living allowance for post secondary students, or maybe have lower tax brackets for students who can provide some type of proof that they were in school and passed a certain amount of courses. They could also offer up better tax breaks on student loans within the first 5 years after graduation too or something like that. It would be easy enough to derive some type of formula for it based on courses taken, passed, and months spent in school, amount of outstanding student debt.

Alberta is fascinating in a way that it's basically been run by 4 political parties since it's inception. The current Torry rule goes back like 35 years now IIRC. One of these days things are due to change, and I guess we'll find out if it's the Torry party themselves who change, or if it's the people of Alberta who change the government. Personally I might prefer a more moderate centered leader to go forward with. The Province is set up to enjoy it's wealth for a few more years, but there are going to be a lot of serious issues come up in the coming years. Not to mention a huge demographic shift where the largest cohort of voters will be 50 and older and have all their children in the work force. The demands of the Alberta voter will be much different and we'll see if the Torries can adapt to meet those needs.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

That truely is a backwards strategy if I've ever heard one. Considering how much oppurtunity there is for anyone to make money in this province the last thing they need is to know they can jump in the patch and make a bunch of money at a low tax rate. Whereas your average college grad isn't done school until they're 23-24 and don't start earning top wages until they get to the age of 30.

What they should be doing is offering up a higher monthly living allowance for post secondary students, or maybe have lower tax brackets for students who can provide some type of proof that they were in school and passed a certain amount of courses. They could also offer up better tax breaks on student loans within the first 5 years after graduation too or something like that. It would be easy enough to derive some type of formula for it based on courses taken, passed, and months spent in school, amount of outstanding student debt.

Alberta is fascinating in a way that it's basically been run by 4 political parties since it's inception. The current Torry rule goes back like 35 years now IIRC. One of these days things are due to change, and I guess we'll find out if it's the Torry party themselves who change, or if it's the people of Alberta who change the government. Personally I might prefer a more moderate centered leader to go forward with. The Province is set up to enjoy it's wealth for a few more years, but there are going to be a lot of serious issues come up in the coming years. Not to mention a huge demographic shift where the largest cohort of voters will be 50 and older and have all their children in the work force. The demands of the Alberta voter will be much different and we'll see if the Torries can adapt to meet those needs.

I think that any student should be provided with Interest FREE loans from the government and paid back on a percentage of income made after graduation.

I have no problem paying for my education (which I have) but why do they have to charge you interest on it. Not to mention they usually don't give you enough so some, like myself, have to borrow from a bank which charges higher interest and can't be claimed on your income tax return.

Absolute BS as far as I'm concerned.

[White Doors]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I think that any student should be provided with Interest FREE loans from the government and paid back on a percentage of income made after graduation.

I have no problem paying for my education (which I have) but why do they have to charge you interest on it. Not to mention they usually don't give you enough so some, like myself, have to borrow from a bank which charges higher interest and can't be claimed on your income tax return.

Absolute BS as far as I'm concerned.

Because 'interest' is a fact of life. Students are coddled enough as it is in my opinion. Got to let them swim with the big fish when they get out.

[browna]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I think that any student should be provided with Interest FREE loans from the government and paid back on a percentage of income made after graduation.

If there's one plan they're not going to do, this is it.

So liberal arts students and Poli Sci students who took 6.5 years to get their degree are going to go work in 2nd hand book stores the summer after grad, making 10$ an hour have to pay back $1 per hour? What about the ones that bartend...are tips garnished?

Completely too complex, and impossible to efficently collect.

While I don't agree students are "coddled" they certianly don't need any less built in motivation from government, telling them not to use their education to the maximum potential.

Not sure on Dinning, but probably rather him as I not a big fan of an Edmontonian who lost thier seat the last election (memories of Don Getty) and, although I am sure he's a good guy, on first look at his name (and Nieuwy 89 confirms it) that a guy named Ed Stelmach probably has all the charm and vigor of soggy bread, or, the Premier of Saskatchewan.

[kipperfan]

I really wish Preston would have got involved and made a run for the leadership. I think he would have won given the large amount of support he had from Alberta during his time as the Reform party leader, I would have loved to have seen what he could have done as the Premier.

[Kobasew fan]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Anyone know what his positions are on the various social issues? Being out of province I don't get to follow things as much as I would like to.

Not sure what positions you are looking for. Here is a link to his stance on various issues.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by White Doors

Because 'interest' is a fact of life. Students are coddled enough as it is in my opinion. Got to let them swim with the big fish when they get out.

Isn't the interest cut off the loan until you graduate?

I'm talking about student loans...

[FurnaceFace]

I know nothing about where these people stand, but then it doesn't matter to me since I don't get a vote on who leads the party. From the link to Dinning's site, he talks a good game...or his PR company pulled a bunch of good quotes anyway.

These ones rang true with me:

Instead of the continual squabbling about Kyoto and the on-again, off-again threats of a carbon tax, why not put our money where it will make a real difference? Into technology that will reduce and ultimately eliminate emissions.

• “To me, any investments we make need to pass three tests:
  • First: Does it put future generations of Albertans first? Because we know these revenues won’t last forever and what goes up inevitably will come down.
  • Second: Does it ensure prosperity for all? Because Alberta is about much more than just cashing in on current prices.
  • And third: Does it make Alberta a model for Canada and perhaps even the world? Because just having lots of cash and being the envy of Canada pits us against our neighbours and friends. We can do better.”

Like most Albertans, I believe in our public health system. I think we should exhaust all the options for strengthening the public system before we look outside the system for solutions... We need to get serious about preventing health problems not just fixing people when they’re sick. We need to continue to challenge health regions to find the most efficient and best ways of getting rid of the bottlenecks and containing costs.

I even like his signature

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by White Doors

Because 'interest' is a fact of life. Students are coddled enough as it is in my opinion. Got to let them swim with the big fish when they get out.

Give me a break buddy. I have no problem paying for my education. To me it's like a business investment. Education is considered one of those essential social programs and I agree. Alberta has a massive labour shortage as it is. It's called an INVESTMENT into Alberta future.

Not everyone can afford an education if they have to take out mounds of student loans. There is NO Reason whatso ever to charge Interest on Student loans.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by White Doors

Because 'interest' is a fact of life. Students are coddled enough as it is in my opinion. Got to let them swim with the big fish when they get out.

Yes let's give young people yet another reason not to get their education.

[jolinar of malkshor]

[quote]

Originally Posted by browna

If there's one plan they're not going to do, this is it.

What?? This is one of the easiest...

So liberal arts students and Poli Sci students who took 6.5 years to get their degree are going to go work in 2nd hand book stores the summer after grad, making 10$ an hour have to pay back $1 per hour? What about the ones that bartend...are tips garnished?

I would rather they take 25 years and pay back the full amount without interest than do what they do now and after 10 years we get nothing back because they can claim bankruptcy.

Not to mention that MOST students are responsible and pay back what they owe.

Completely too complex, and impossible to efficently collect.

What are you talking about? Many programs are set up like this. EVERY person who works or wants benifits has to file an income tax return. You made $10,000 last year, you pay back 2% (or whatever percentage) of that amount the next year. You make $100,000 same thing. How complex is that?

While I don't agree students are "coddled" they certianly don't need any less built in motivation from government, telling them not to use their education to the maximum potential.

Please tell me how allowing students to pay back there student loans on a more reasonable timetable prevents them from obtaining their maximum potential??????????/ Infact, it would probably help them achieve their potential as they won't be burdened with the thought of paying hundreds of dollars a month to student loans when they are done.

[Shazam]

Instead of the continual squabbling about Kyoto and the on-again, off-again threats of a carbon tax, why not put our money where it will make a real difference? Into technology that will reduce and ultimately eliminate emissions.

The "technology" to reduce emissions has been around for ages. However, it costs a fortune to actually refit an existing plant or build a new plant, and companies like to amortize their assets (old, crappy plants) as much as they can before totally writing them off.

My God, Dinning is an idiot. Here's a guy who claims to know something about money and he can't even figure out the prime reason why companies don't want to reduce their emissions.

[Shazam]

Not everyone can afford an education if they have to take out mounds of student loans. There is NO Reason whatso ever to charge Interest on Student loans.

Sigh... Believe it or not, student loans have a fairly high default rate. Considering the interest rate they're lent at, it's no wonder the banks abandoned the student loan market.

Please tell me how allowing students to pay back there student loans on a more reasonable timetable prevents them from obtaining their maximum potential?

I owed ~ $18K when I graduated from university. The Alberta government was nice enough to remiss ~ $8500 of that. I amortized the rest of the principal over about 15 years. My monthly payment was $270. My effective interest rate after the tax credit was around 3%. What the hell else are they supposed to do for the "poor student"? And trust me, I was dirt poor. I lived off of $800 a month for years and years.

Also, some students get their entire student loan remissed. My friend's brother, who studied dentistry, got his entire loan remissed due to his high grades.

Considering tution expenses can also now be carried forward, a student entering the workforce can save a massive amount of tax.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Sigh... Believe it or not, student loans have a fairly high default rate. Considering the interest rate they're lent at, it's no wonder the banks abandoned the student loan market.
I owed ~ $18K when I graduated from university. The Alberta government was nice enough to remiss ~ $8500 of that. I amortized the rest of the principal over about 15 years. My monthly payment was $270. My effective interest rate after the tax credit was around 3%. What the hell else are they supposed to do for the "poor student"? And trust me, I was dirt poor. I lived off of $800 a month for years and years.

Also, some students get their entire student loan remissed. My friend's brother, who studied dentistry, got his entire loan remissed due to his high grades.

Considering tution expenses can also now be carried forward, a student entering the workforce can save a massive amount of tax.

$18K is peanuts now adays. The average is around 35K. And so what if some people get their entire loan paid for, that doesn't help the dude that didn't. Also it doesn't take long for your tuition credits to be used up. Tution is not the only cost in schooling. Only now(thanks to the Tories) that books can be credited. Then you have all the costs associated for living.

What else can they do for the poor student??? No interest and base the repayments on income. As it stands now you are either over the threshold and pay the FULL amount or your under and the interest is paid for for 6 month blocks. Plain and simple.

[Shazam]

Do you just make up **** as you go along, or do you actually believe the junk that you post?

Look at these default rates:

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/cslp/s...rovinces.shtml

You're telling me you'd give these slackers interest free loans? Why don't we just give them a Chrysler while we're at it? And a shopping spree at Leons?

What else can they do for the poor student??? No interest and base the repayments on income. As it stands now you are either over the threshold and pay the FULL amount or your under and the interest is paid for for 6 month blocks. Plain and simple.

Do you read anything that other people write? I paid a piddly $270 a month. God forbid someone actually pay $540 a month for their education. My effective interest rate was 3%. 3%!! Do you understand that? Do you even understand what the hell interest even is?

Look, getting a degree is one of the best investments a person can make. Post secondary grads make far, far more than high school grads. It's only fair they actually pay into some of their education. And God forbid they actually bother do something like work during the summer to save up for their education.

Oh well. You also thought Coke was owned by Mormons, so what the hell do you know.

[Shazam]

$18K is peanuts now adays. The average is around 35K. And so what if some people get their entire loan paid for, that doesn't help the dude that didn't.

Aww, shucksy doodle. I guess you're still whining about not getting that Lexus that you "deserve"?

Also it doesn't take long for your tuition credits to be used up.

Yeah, because everybody gets to deduct $16K worth of tax credits every year.

Tution is not the only cost in schooling. Only now(thanks to the Tories) that books can be credited.

Holy fark, thanks for the update. I guess I forgot that when I was in university and budgeting my expenses, I didn't realize that tution wasn't my only cost!

Then you have all the costs associated for living.

Yeah, pity everybody else that has to pay for living with after tax money. Let's give them all a free ride too! Weeee!!

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Look at these default rates:

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/cslp/s...rovinces.shtml

Man those rates **** me off. When I graduated it was tough. I got my interest free period extended once, and when I got a job I worked night shift and as muc OT as I could. I pumped as much money into my loan as possible and paid it off in 4 years. I get pretty annoyed when I see rates where 1/5 people defaulted on those loans.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by FireFly

It's a sad day for Alberta and this may signal a changing of the guards... Residents generally aren't happy about the way the party drove out Klein instead of letting him go when he felt like it. I think we should be more concerned about who wins the leadership of the Alberta Alliance as I just don't see Albertans supporting the PCs much longer. They've had their 30 years, it's time for someone new.

I agree... I was hoping we'd get some inspiring leadership candidates for Premier, and instead we got a group of charisma resistant, Klein bashers (who incidentally all seem to want to do exactly the same stuff he did, and happily sat around during Ralph's "cruise control"), who really will only lead to the demise of the PCs. I'm surprised so many people are supporting Jim Dinning... the same Jim Dinning, if I'm not mistaken, who held a high ranking position in the maligned CRHA, after being treasurer and yes-man for Ralph.

Morton could be a good leader, but he too frequently speaks without thinking... a by-product of academics running for office (see Michael Ignatieff)... aside from him, its the same group of people you always see run, but typically there's one or two better people who actually win.

It'll be interesting to see if the Alliance can convince Manning, Gwyn Morgan or even Ted Morton (if he doesn't win and can be better groomed) to run for their leadership. Doing so would suddenly, in my humble opinion, put the fatigued PCs in a lot of trouble. I mean, these guys herald the basic idea of low taxes, fiscal responsibility and high funding for education and healthcare. Everyone does, that's an expectation! Even the Liberals endorse those ideas... That's also what Ralph has been doing since balancing the budget. Lets hear what else (if anything) these guys can come up with.

[jolinar of malkshor]

You are out to lunch buddy. Those little stats you provided tell jack****. It simply says that percentage of people who are behind on their loan payment. That doesnt tell how many people actually didn't pay their loan. A big problem is the interest. If people didn't have to pay the interest (which could be half of their actual payment) they would be more likely to pay the loan. But I guess you don't really want to tackle the actual problem, you just want people to PAY, right.

What the hell are you talking about? People have to prove they are in school to get loans, not sure if your aware of that, they also have to prove they are in financial need, so please tell me how they are going to buy a car and pay for there schooling? If they can't pay for their schooling they will be kicked out of school and will not be able to get any more loans. Grade 2 math. Making it so loan payments can actually be paid back would decrease the default rate. Like I said before, I would rather it take 25 years for someone to pay back their loans instead of nothing at all. But go ahead, charge interest

Good for you....you only paid $270 a month. $540 a month is a lot of money for someone only making $20,000 a year that means $6,000...$6,000 you get that. So no matter if someone makes $100,000 or $20,000 the payments will be the same. Sounds really fair. Try living in Calgary making 20 or even 30 thousand paying $6000 a year in student loan payments $8,000 to $10,000 rent payments, food, clothing, transportation. As for the three percent. You need to make enough money to actaully get back your interest credits.

Makes sense eh..

Actually, today it doesn't pay to go to school for 4 or 6 years. You can make over a $100,000 without a highschool diploma nowadays. That is one of the problems, I know of at least one University that has its enrollements down and they are blaiming it on just that. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Ooohhh, I also admitted that I was wrong with that comment and said it was interesting to find out that it was a myth.